The next day arrived and by then, news had reached the capital that Seris had already begun its invasion. The King and his advisors were understandably shocked, they thought that it would have been another month before Seris could have amassed such a number of troops for invasion. But of course, before the peace treaty, the two countries were prepared for war, their armies on standby. Of course, Athera was prepared as well but less so, it only had an army of five thousand was amassed to at least delay the invasion force.
Ieros was not called upon as though he could create the gates, the King and his advisors thought that he too had limits and he wouldn’t be able to create a gate large enough or to sustain it long enough for the army to pass through. Of course, Ieros could but he didn’t say anything, after all, he wasn’t asked. But he was given his own command of his legion and after peering at the map and listening on the enemy through the shadows, he told the King that he would be moving to mountain pass, one that was far away from the invasion force but also led directly to the capital.
The King saw no problem with this and let him go, the other mages also didn’t have any qualms, they didn’t want a youngling to get in their way. So Ieros made a gate into the giant’s head, which was actually a room that was not at all dissimilar from the cottage, a simple sitting chair and a bookshelf. But unlike the cottage, one wall was made of glass and the view beyond was what it would look like from the giant’s perspective. Of course, this room was in another dimension so the tremors of the giant’s footsteps would not shake the room. The giant and his troops made great progress on their way to the mountain pass. But once the giant was out of sight of the capital, Ieros opened a gate and teleported to the pass, it made no sense to wait. There, he had his legion station on the sides of the mountain, their normal black coloring diminishing to various shades of grey to match the mountainside. Their armor also morphed, changing from smooth plating to a rougher texture, to match that of the coarse mountainside. The giant was concealed with magic, though it was placed on the mountainside as well so that it was less likely that anyone would accidentally come across it.
As for Ieros, he returned to the forest as he would know if an army came. He then sat down and then closed his eyes, the fragment connecting with the shadows that were watching the two armies get ever closer, waiting for when they would clash.
—GENERAL AZEMAR—
“Those damned Serisians, we tried for peace and yet they toss it aside! Just when I thought this war would be over…” I continued to rant in my empty office.
I sighed, and then laughed at myself, “The greatest general in all of Athera, whining like a child.”
But not without good reason, I had fought this war for too long, already twenty years of my life fighting this damned war and all for what? For a peace treaty that didn’t even work? I had watched friends and good men both die in this god-be-damned war and killed a good few of them myself.
But, perhaps it is better this way. After all, I’m just too damn old, I became a general at the age of twenty, went to fight wars and defend my country from the monsters for ten years and then went to war on Seris for another twenty. Half of my life gone and what had I accomplished? Sure I won medals and lead my army to great victories but all for what? If the war were to end now, I would just be some war hero to be forgotten as peace comes. I’d have no place in a world of peace, no, my hands are far to bloody. Then again, the simple pleasures that peace could bring also don’t excite me, only battle brings the delicious feeling of adrenaline pumping through my veins, that visceral, addicting feeling. I was addicted to war and whether I liked it or not, I needed it.
A knocking at the door brought me back to the real world and sighing, I called,
“Come in.”
My lieutenant entered, he had been a stalwart comrade since the Seris Campaign, trustworthy and a good sword to have at your back.
Brightening slightly, I asked, “How are you doing lieutenant?”
He bowed his head, “Fine sir.”
I nodded amicably before saying, “I’m called to lead the army, correct?”
He nodded and I stood with resignation, “Very well, how many troops do we have?”
He said, “Five thousand sir.”
I cursed, “Damn it! What do they expect me to do with five thousand!?”
Aldis stood, waiting until I was done.
When I had calmed down, I asked, “And the invasion force? How much and where?”
Aldis answered dutifully, “Ten thousand and they have taken Greenhill Fort and are moving to Iredale.”
I swore some more, “God fucking damn it, it’ll take at least two weeks to get there and by then, they will have taken Iredale!”
I hammered my fist onto my desk, my anger dulling the pain. I took a few breaths to calm down, taking deep, slow breaths.
Aldis then said, “But the good news is that archmages Ivsaar the White and Arryn the Pious are joining the army.”
I breathed a sigh of relief, “Finally, some good news. Those two will be able to give us a fighting chance.”
I then asked, “When will I be deployed?”
He said, “You will be deployed three days from now, that is when the army will be ready to move.”
I cursed again, “Damn it! By then they’ll have taken Iredale! For fuck’s sake, everyone got excited about peace and gave vacation too fucking early!”
After ranting for a bit longer, I then dismissed Aldis, he didn’t have anything else to tell me and I had to think of a battle plan. I had to assume that my men were not the best of the best though they were veterans so at least that was something. I did have my personal army but they only numbered eight hundred men. Of course, they would be a rather elite unit, one that I would have to use sparingly. Of course, I had seen the army of a thousand that was at one of the most recent court mage’s command, a lad by the name of Ieros. If I had those at my command, I would be able to turn this war around because those thousand along with my forces and the original five thousand would make six thousand and eight hundred soldiers.
That would give me a fighting chance for I predict that the enemy will leave at least two thousand men at Greenhill fort and the remaining eight thousand will march to Iredale and await further forces. There’s only a twelve hundred difference between my troops and theirs and the troops under the mage’s power are golems, they would be far more powerful than any soldier. That would close the gap easily but of course, I’d have to ask the mage in question. I made up my mind to ask the King about his whereabouts later but if he refuses, I will just have to make do.
I wish I could ask my friend Adelard but he was busy defending southern Athera from the monsters that roam in the Uncharted. Those wild lands that held unimaginable beauty and danger. But, it attracted men like him, there was something about it that called to him, much like how battle calls to me. He had an army of three thousand as well as the garrison force, which was an extra thousand. But I knew he could ill afford to send a thousand forces my way, they were barely holding the line as it was, individual monsters slipping through while they kept the hordes at bay.
Of course there were mercenaries but the pockets of the Crown have been running low as of late, the cost to keep up our military along with the threat of the monsters to the south had been taking its toll. We could also ask the adventurer guilds but they also had bases in Seris so if Seris got their aid first, then the guilds would do nothing. So they couldn’t trust the guilds though I’m sure that the King would ask them for aid.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
But once again, there came knocking at the door and I said, “Come in.”
This time, the King himself arrived and immediately, I stood and bowed, asking, “What does his majesty want with one such as myself?”
The King chuckled, “I merely wanted to speak with you. As you should know, you will be leading an army against the invaders.”
I nodded and the King continued, “Good, good. Now, I wanted you to know that the Bloodstrider guild has joined forces with us, they have sent five hundred adventurers to aid with our cause.”
I didn’t really react, it wasn’t that amazing for it wasn’t what I had hoped for but was better than my expectations.
I just nodded and then remembering, I said, “Your majesty, I have a question.”
He allowed me to speak, “Go on general.”
I asked, “I have heard of Ieros and his army. I was wondering if he would by any chance help our cause.”
The King replied, “Yes, that would be good but unfortunately he has already taken his troops to the Hollowed Pass.”
I nearly swore in front of the King but I managed to bite it down. I then went over to the map and then searched for the Hollowed Pass, at first my anger clouding my judgement. But it soon faded away as I saw the possibility of the invasion force splitting up to send another force towards the pass or the possibility of another invasion force. That pass was extremely important and not just for travel, that pass protected the western edge of Athera. But as it was out of the way and mostly forgotten, it was hardly ever used and our garrison had been re-stationed to the South.
So we had unwittingly created a great weakness in the defense of Athera but this young man, he saw it all with but a glance. He was no normal child, but then again, he was a genius.
I sighed with relief and the King asked, “What is it general?”
I answered, “Well you see your majesty, Ieros had chosen to block up a weakness in the defense of Athera. The Hollowed Pass allows for nearly unrestricted access to the capital. If an army were to enter, the capital would fall in a matter of days, meaning the fall of Athera.”
The King asked, “Then why haven’t we defended it earlier?”
I answered, “Well, the threat of the Seris Kingdom to the north and the monsters to the south, we were forced to devote all our forces to those two borders, leaving our sides very weak. Luckily, to the East is the sea and to the west a mountain range. We were fortunate that none of the other countries had caught on yet.”
The King then looked at the map as well and then chuckled, “Well, with Ieros there, we don’t have to worry about a thing. That boy is one of the most powerful mages I’ve ever seen. My daughter even said how four of his golems defeated the court mage of Seris with ease.”
I blurted out, “Really?!”
He nodded and I looked back at the map, remembering the sight of that giant golem. I then began to laugh, we had absolutely nothing to fear with a monster like that on our side.
The King asked, “Why do you laugh?”
I replied with a large grin on my face, “Why, I’m just glad that he’s on our side.”
He smiled too and said, “I have to agree.”
The King then left after some idle chat, he had other duties to attend to. Well, five hundred was probably the best I could ask for right now. Besides, being adventurers they must be at least slightly better than average compared to a regular soldier. But they also weren’t trained for large scale battles… hmm.
I thought a great deal on how to solve this dilemma, eventually just saying fuck it and having the adventurers fight normally. They would get into groups of five-ish and then have then just fight to survive. Their main job would be for intercepting enemy charges as they weren’t trained to spearhead a charge. As adventurers already know how to fight in small groups, this should be a good tactic. It has already been tried on new recruits and this method has resulted in the least casualties compared to other methods, at least, in my experience.
I smiled, nostalgic memories resurfacing. Way back when I was a new recruit and assigned with my team, all who would become the best of friends. I still remember the exact moment when I pissed my pants, it was when a fucker, big as a horse came thundering towards me. I plopped down onto the ground and promptly pissed myself, but Adelard came screaming like a banshee and miraculously managed to stick him in the side. By then, I was pushed on by adrenaline and I joined in to, because if I didn’t I would have died.
But then I felt sorrow, three of my four teammates were now dead, all in this damned war with Seris. I sighed and sat back in my chair, looking out the window at a sunny day before telling myself that it was shameful to waste such a beautiful day with depressing thoughts. I sighed and then stood, deciding that a training session was in order. So I headed to the training arena, nodding at soldiers who saluted in my direction. Finally, I arrived and was rather amazed at the sight I saw and heard, the furious clashing of metal and the blurred forms of twenty fighters. I whistled in appreciation, I doubted that I’d be able to reach that level of speed in this old body of mine.
Suddenly, a voice commanded, “Halt!”
Suddenly, all the figures stopped and I could see that it was a mixture of men and women. I then saw the owner of the voice, Elviria Celestia, a magic researcher who spearheaded research into making magically enhanced soldiers. I guessed that these were her subjects and from the looks of it, they appeared to be successful.
I said, “Hello Elviria, seems you’re work is successful.”
She grinned, “Yes, I’m quite proud of them.”
I then decided that they would prove to be quite good sparring partners so I said, “You wouldn’t mind if I was to spar with them, would you?”
She replied excitedly, “Oh no, not at all! This would be a good chance for some research!”
I shrugged and said, “Well, just tell them all to come at me.”
She then grinned maliciously, “Well then don’t blame me when you go crying to your momma.”
I chuckled, “I’ve lost the ability to cry lassy.”
I then donned some training armor and took up a dulled sword, nothing more than a metal rod really but it will do. I then held the sword out in front of me, zoning out all other sounds until all that I heard was my breath, the beating of my heart and the haggard panting of my opponents. But my vision wasn’t as good as it had once been, neither was my hearing. But I still should be able to put up a decent fight, after all, I’m one of the most powerful swordsmen in all of Athera.
I muttered, “Whoo, old age is really getting to me.”
Elviria called, “Don't be dying of old age now old man.”
I smiled and then waited, I didn’t like to attack first though I will if I must. This silent standoff lasted for a minute longer before four of them attacked. In that brief instant, I moved, slashing four times before returning to my previous position. The for of them were knocked backward, their arms and/or legs broken. But I wasn’t worried, they were super soldiers, if something like a broken arm stopped them than they weren’t really super soldiers.
I then stretched and complained, “Oh these old bones of mine.”
Four more took advantage of my opening and I grinned, they had fallen for it. I slashed four times once more but this time, I only managed to hit three. I was pleasantly surprised, this may be an opponent worth fighting. I then chased after her but this time, the remaining twelve charged in and I was forced to deal with them, taking each down with a single attack while also dodging and blocking their attacks. I sensed the woman circling me, searching for an opening in which to attack though I kept my guard up. To loosen my guard here would be suicidal.
Finally, I managed to defeat the last one but in that split second, she took advantage of my open back and darted forward. But of course, I wasn’t the third best swordsman for nothing. I didn’t whip around, that would have taken too much time so instead I just dived towards the ground, the last super soldier missing me and going in front of me. I then launched myself forward and then slashed at her open back, defeating her as well. I then breathed out, bringing myself out of the zone. When my hearing was no longer tuned to just the fight, I heard clapping, it was Elviria.
I sighed and pretended to be an old man, leaning on the sword as if it was a cane, “Oh my back.”
She snorted, “Oh shut up old man, you just defeated twenty super soldiers as if they were nothing.”
I whined, “But my back hurts.”
We then started to laugh and when we had calmed down, I said, “Well, your super soldiers are certainly something, especially her.” I gestured at the woman.
Elviria smiled proudly, “Yes, she is the most powerful of my subjects, I do hope you haven’t hurt her too much.”
I waved her worry off, “Oh they’ll come off it. Don’t tell me that a few broken bones are going to stop your super soldiers.”
She huffed, “I’ll have you know that they have super regeneration but an attack from a powerful swordsman is much more different than a simple broken bone.”
I then, “Oh, by way, you know that I’m going off to war, right? Mind if I use your super soldiers?”
She answered, “Feel free to take them, they do need practical experience.”
I beamed at her, “Great! You don’t know how much of a help they’ll be.”
After taking off the armor and returning the sword, I left, my mind cleared. I then returned to my office, I had to simulate various battles and strategies and choose the best one, especially with the new addition of the adventurers and the super soldiers. Oh well, I suppose this kinda stuff is better suited to an old man like me.